Public sector workers were more likely to say their mental health was poor compared to their peers in the private sector; 15 per cent as opposed to nine per cent, and more likely to say they felt anxious at work on several occasions over the past month; 53 per cent against 43 per cent.

And under half felt supported when they disclosed mental health issues, compared to 61 per cent of those in the private sector.

The UK public sector employs over 5.4m people and around three million of those are employed are employed by central government.

And the impact of the lack of support regarding mental health at work is significant, according to Mind. Respondents from the public sector said that they had taken nearly three days off sick, on average, in the last year due to their mental health. That compared to just under one day on average for workers in the private sector.

Nearly half of public sector workers had time off due to their mental health, while under a third of the private sector employees had.

However, the research also found that the public sector as a whole was more aware of the problem than the private sector and workers were more likely to disclose they had a mental health problem and be up front about it when they took time off because of it.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: “As a nation our expectations for better mental health for all are higher than ever and the next government must rise to this challenge.

This data shows that the public sector in particular is making progress here. But it’s also vital that when people do speak out they get the right help and support at the right time.

It’s clear there is still a long way to go in both the public and private sector to address the gap between people asking for support and actually getting what they need.

Our Aims: About Us

To support users and ex-users of psychiatric services in the Manchester area. The organisation provides a forum for services users to have a bona fide say in planning and provision of mental health services.

Protesters in King’s Lynn fight against mental health service cuts

Protesters took to the streets of King’s Lynn to voice their anger at what they described as “continuous” cutbacks to mental health services in west Norfolk.

Mental health cuts protest

A protest march against cuts to mental health services and the Fermoy Unit at the QEH took place in King's Lynn town centre. Picture: Matthew Usher.

More than 100 campaigners marched from The Walks through the town centre before finishing outside the Majestic Cinema.

Peter Smith, former parliamentary candidate for south-west Norfolk said: “We are in the fight of our lives here.”

The protest was triggered by the Fermoy Unit, an in-patient NHS facility in Lynn for mental health, which campaigners say faces an uncertain future. The unit was briefly closed to new admissions earlier this month, but reopened last week, albeit with fewer beds.

Mr Smith said: “In my lifetime we have never had to fight like this, but what is the alternative?”

But Debbie White, director of operations for Norfolk at the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said there were now no plans to axe the Fermoy Unit.

She added: “It is right that mental health services should be valued and funded on the same level as acute health services, and it is understandable people feel passionate about the Fermoy Unit remaining open.”

Labour party activist Jo Rust insisted the issue would not disappear. She said: “They have been talking about closing it for a long time. We will fight and we will not let them do that.”

Beth Anthony, 18 of Dersingham, said: “We are here to protest against the continuous cuts to the mental health service, we think it’s unacceptable. My younger brother suffers from poor mental health and has to travel to London... That is to the detriment of my family because we have to pay for him to go down by train every single month.”